Selection mechanism for calculating machine



R. E. BUSCH ET Al. 3,295,757

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR CALCULATNG MACHINE Jfm- 3, 1967 Filed Feb, 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS,

CP/CHAR@ E. BUSCH JOHN 6. amy BX /n/ M Jan. 3, 1967 R E, BUSCH ET A1. 3,295,757

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR GALCULATING MACHINE Filed Feb` 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

P/CHRD E. BUSCH JOHN G. CLA/PY ATTORNEY. l

Jan. 3, 1967 R, E, BUSCH `ET AL 3,295,757

x SELECTION MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Feb. lll, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q im.,

1 NVENTORS.

R/CHRD E. BUSCH JOHN 6. CLRY A T TORNE Y.

Jan. 3, 1967 R. E. BUSCH ET AL 3,295,757

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. lll, 1966 O T. N E V m R/CHARD E. BUSCH ./oH/v G. CLAW BY //I M ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,757 SELECTIN MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHHNE Richard E. Busch, La Puente, and .lohn G. Clary, Pasadena, Calif., assignors to Addmaster Corporation, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 527,168

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 23S-61B) This invention relates to key controlled business machines, such as adding machines, calculators, cash registers, etc., and has particular reference to machines of the full key keyboard type wherein each dominational order ofthe machine is controlled by a respective row of at least nine depressible keys ranging in value from 1 to 9.

In 'machines of the above type, the keys are generally spaced apart approximately three fourths of an inch in order to minimize the possibility of the operators fingers inadvertently striking two adjacent keys at one time. However, the lateral spacing between printed characters is generally much closer, thereby requiring special reducing mechanism in order to connect differential mem-bers controlled by the keys with corresponding type character bearing members.

Heretofore, such connecting mechanisms generally took the form of rack and pinion assemblies or racks with offset sections located in planes spaced from the main planes of the racks.

Such rack and pinion assemblies, 4although generally satisfactory, are relativ-ely expensive, particularly when a large number of denominational orders are involved. Offset rack constructions, although economical, tend to exhibit binding tendencies and are generally limited in `the amount of offsetting possible, due to such binding tendencies.

Although flexible cables have been attempted heretofore to transmit motion from a differentially controlled member in one plane to a differentially controlled member in another plane, such arrangements have not been satisfactory when used in business machines where large numbers of cables and cable guide means are employed, due largely to frictional forces encountered in guiding the cable from one plane to another unless pulleys or the like are employed. Pulleys are generally not feasible where a large number of cables are to be guided in close proximity to each other.

A principal object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above noted difficulties.

Another object is to provide a llexible cable and guide means for connecting a differentially movable member which is located to move in one plane to a similar member to be controlled thereby land located in a second plane, with a minimum of frictional forces involved.

Another object is to provide a reliable and yet relatively inexpensive means for connecting a keyboard controlled differentially movable member to another member to be controlled by such first noted member and located in a different plane.

Another object is to provide means for connecting a keyboard controlled diiferentially movable member to another member located in any of a plurality of different planes.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a business machine embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the business machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2;*3 of FIG. 1, illustrating certain of the keys in depressed condition and others i-n undepressed condition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the drive mecha nism for the various printing sectors.

FiG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the drive for the differential slides and printing sector blocking pawls.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View through a modified form of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 in particular, the particular em-bodiment of the invention disclosed therein is adapted to the well known commercially available Addmaster Adding Machine whose various operating instrumentalities are basically disclosed in Patent No. 3,113,719, issued to R. E. Busch on Dec. l0, 1963 and Patent No. 3,132,582, issued to H. L. Clary et al. on May l2, 1964. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, reference is hereby made to said patents for an understanding of details of mechanism not specifically disclosed herein.

According to the present invention and in lieu of the ten key keyboard shown in the above patents, a full keyboard is provided comprising a plurality of rows of depressible amount keys 11, each row containing nine amount keys ranging in value from l to 9. Each row of keys is supported by an individual columnar key frame 12, preferably of plastic. The various frames have bearings ftted over laterally extending stationary support rods 13 and 114 which are suitably supported in a manner not shown by the machine frame, the frames being suitably held in side-by-side relation to each other to form to rigid keyboard section.

The keys 11 are preferably formed of plastic and their stems are slideably mounted for vertical movement in aligned slots 1li formed in spaced horizontally extending iianges 1S and 16 which form integral parts of each key frame.

Each of the keys has a vertical ledge 17, at the lower end of. which is formed a shoulder 18 overlying a tension spring 2li. The latter is attached at its ends to studs 21 integral with the associated key frame 12 and is supported intermediate the various keys by stu-ds 22, also formed integral with the associated key frame.

The springs 26 normally hold the amount keys in their rais-ed positions wherein an abutment 23 on each keystem engages the lower surface of the flange 16.

It will be noted that each abutment 23 is formed on a tongue 24 integral with the keystem and forming the inner edge of a U-shaped cutout 25, leaving the tongue sufciently flexible to permit flexing when the key is initially inserted in the slots, thus permitting assembly and disassembly of the keys in the frames.

Means are provided to latch any of the amount keys in depressed position, and for this purpose a key latch 26 is provided for each row of keys. The latch is preferably formed of plastic and is suitably attached along its upper edge to the respective key frame 12. The latch is formed with a cutout section 27 forming a weakened or hinged section to permit lateral deflection fof the lower portion of the latch. Each keystem is provided with a projection 28 effective upon depression of the key to laterally deflect the latch member 26. Upon complete depression of a key the latch member 26 snaps into position directly above the projection 28, thus holding the key depressed. Suitable means (not shown) is effective to release all of the latch members 26 during a machine cycle to prepare the keyboard for entry of new amounts.

Each row of amount keys has associated therewith a differential control slide 30 guided for lengthwise movement by a pair of depending projections 31 and 32 `thereon which extend through guide slots, i.e. 33, in the lower flange of the associated key frame 12. These slides 30 are individually urged rearwardly 'by tension 'springs 34 but are normally held in their illustrated forward posi- 3 tions by an actuator rod 35 which engages the projections 32 and is slideably mounted in elongated slfots 36 formed in side frame plates, partly shown at 37, for transverse movement longitudinally of the machine.

ySpaced upwardly extending projections 38 are formed integral with each slide 30 and each projection is adapted to arrest against the ledge 17 of a depressed amount key. It will be noted that the rear edge of each projection 38 is spaced from the ledge 17 of its associated key by an amount less than the spacing between the ledge 17 of a directly preceding lower valued key and its associated projection 33.

The projection 31 of each slide has attached thereto one end of a flexible cable 41 which extends in the plane of the slide and is guided between guide posts 42 integral with the associated key frame and around guide posts 43 also formed integral with the same or other key frames, the opposite end of the cable being attached to associated stop pawls 44 and 45. Each cable is guided over `an arcuate guide surface 46 on its stop pawl.

The pawls 44 are independently pivoted on a support rod 47 and are urged clockwise by individual tension springs 48 to normally engage an actuator bail 50 also pivoted on the support rod 47.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the stop pawls 44 are spaced much closer together than the associated nows of keys 11 and for the purpose of guiding the cables properly to the pawls so that they lie in substantially the same planes as the pawls, each key frame has a number of guide posts 43 formed thereon and spaced apart distances equal to the spacing between the stop pawls, thereby presenting a large number of such guide posts, any of which may be selected to guide the cables therearound.

The stop pawls 44 cooperate with printing sectors 51 which function in a manner similar to the sectors 14 shown in the above Busch patent to cooperate with a printer mechanism 52 `and an accumulator 53. Stepped detent sections 152 are formed on the sectors and are arranged to be dilerentially arrested by the associated pawls 44, depending upon the angular positions to which such pawls are moved under control of the slides 30. Thus, different type characters 49, representative of the different depressed keys, are presented to the print hammers 69 of printer 52 to record corresponding digital items on a strip 59 of record material.

Means are provided for moving the actuator rod 35 in unison with the bail 50 and for this purpose links, one of which is shown at 153, are connected between the rod 35 and pivot points 54 on the 'bail 50. The bail 50, in turn, is attached to an arm 55 (FIG. 5) connected by a link 56 to a cam follower 57 which is fulcrummed at 58 and follows a cam 60 mounted on a motor driven cyclically operable drive shaft 61. The latter is similar to drive shaft 21 of the above noted Busch patent and is caused to rotate through one complete revolution in a counterclockwise direction upon depression of a machine function control key (not shown).

Means are provided for yieldably rocking the sectors 51 clockwise from their illustrated positions until .arrested by the differentially set stop pawls 44 and for this purpose, an actuator bail rod 62 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is located in coupling engagement with yieldable tails 63 formed on the various sectors 51. The bail rod 62 is carried by gear sectors 64, one of which meshes with .a combined gear :sector and cam follower 65. The latter is pivotally supported at 66 and follows a cam 67 mounted on the drive shaft 61.

1t will be noted that the cam 60 enables the slides 30 :and stop pawls 44 to differentially advance to controlling positions during the early stages of a machine cycle and prior to actuation of the sectors 51 'by the bail 62. Also, the cam is elfective to retract the slides 30 and stop pawls 44 at approximately mid-cycle, prior to return of the sectors 51 by the cam 67.

An important feature of the present invention is that the lengths of the links 53 relative to lengths of the cables 41 is such that the cables are maintained slightly slackened in the full cycle condition of the machine and during rearward travel of the slides 30 prior to being arrested by depressed ones of the keys. Accordingly, frictional drag or capstan etfect between the cables and the various guide posts, i.e. 43, is substantially eliminated. The same effect will be exhibited during return of the slides 3i) and stop pawls during the latter half of a machine cycle.

Another important feature of the invention is that the slide 30 can be readily connected to different ones of the stop pawls 44 by guiding the cables around different ones of the guide posts 43 and connecting the same to selected ones of the stop pawls. For example, it may 'be desirable to provide a space between two items on a printed line, in which case one or more of the stop pawls located in line with the desired space is arranged to have no cable connected thereto. Also, it may be desirable to cause a righthand row or rows of amount keys to control a lefthand stop pawl or pawls, or vice versa. Also, a single slide 30 may be connected through two or more cables to stop pawls located in two or more sections of the printer so that duplicate information may be printed at the same time on the same line of print and on the same or separate strips of record material located sideby-side.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein printing sectors '70, similar in function to the sectors 51 lof FIG. 1, -are directly connected to respective ones of denominationally arranged control slides 71 through flexible cables 172.

The amount keys 11 are similar to those shown in FIG. 1 and the slides 71 are arranged to be differentially controlled by the ledges 17 of depressed iones of the keys, but in this case, the projections 72, corresponding to projections 38 of FIG. 1, rare spaced apart from the ledges by amounts each less than the spacing between the ledge of a directly succeeding higher valued key and its associated projection. Thus, the spacing between the number one key and its associated projection is smaller than the spacing between each of the remaining keys 'and its associated projection.

Each cable 172 is attached at one end to an associated key frame 16 by a clamp screw 73 and is reeved about a horn 74 integral with the associated slide 71. The remainder of the cable is guided about guide posts 42 and 43, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2, over a guide rod 75 and onto an arcuate ledge 76 integral with the associated sector 70. The cable is attached to such ledge at 77.

Each slide 71 is normally held in its illustrated home position against the action of a tension spring 78 by an actuator rod 80, similar to rod 35. The sectors 70 are yieldably driven clockwise during each machine cycle in a manner similar to sectors 51 by bail 62. However, the drive for the rod 80 and bail 62 is so arranged that both will move in unison. Also, each cable 72 is maintained slightly slackened when the machine is in its full cycle position and when the sectors 70 are being differentially advanced or returned from advanced positions and is only tightened when the associated slide 71 is arrested, thereby `reducing any frictional forces developed by the cables as they pass over the guides 42, 43, 74 and 75 to a minimum.

Suitable means (not shown) is provided to prevent movement of each slide 71 from its Zero position shown in FIG. 6 except when an amount key in the respective row is depressed.

Although the invention has been described in detail and certain specific terms and languages have been used, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes `and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a calculating machine having value selecting means and a differential control member movable from an initial position toward a second position,

said value selective means being effective to differentially limit the extent of movement of said control member toward said second position,

a first yieldable means for moving said control member toward said second position thereof, and

a differentially movable member,

the combination comprising a second yieldable means for moving said differentially movable member from an initial position to a second position thereof,

a flexible cable connecting said control member to said differentially movable member,

means for controlling said differentially movable member to move toward said second position thereof at a predetermined rate of speed, `and means for controlling said control member t-o move toward said second position thereof ahead of said differentially movable member whereby said cable is maintained slack until said control member is arrested by said value selecting means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said value selecting means comprises a 4plurality of depressible keys representing the values of 1 to 9, respectively.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means controls said control member to maintain the same amount of, slack in said cable until said control member is arrested.

4, The combination according to claim 1 comprising a cyclically oper-able mechanism and means operable by said mechanism for actuating said two controlling means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said control member is located out of alignment with said differentially movable member, and means for guiding said cable from said control member to said differentially movable member.

6` The combination according to claim 1 comprising means forming a plurality of guideways spaced different distances from the path of movement of said control member,

each of said guideways being adapted to guide said cable from said control member to said differentially movable member.

7. In a calculating machine having a plurality of rows of depressible keys, frames supporting respective rows of said keys,

differential control members guided by said frames for movement from initial positions toward second positions thereof,

yieldable means for moving said control members fromv said initial positions toward said second positions thereof, depressed ones of said keys being effective ,to differentially limit the extent of movement of associated ones of said control members, and differentially movable members located -out of alignment with said control members, the combination comprising yieldable means other than said first mentioned yieldable means for moving said differentially movable members from initial positions thereof toward second positions thereof, flexible cables connecting said control members to respective ones of said differentially movable members, guide means for guiding said cables from any of said control members to any of said differentially movable members, means for controlling said differentially movable members to move toward said second positions thereof at predetermined rates of speed, and means for contr-olling said control members to move toward said second positions thereof ahead of said differentially movable members whereby said cables are maintained slack until said control members are arrested by depressed ones of said keys. 8. The combination Iaccording to claim 7 wherein said guide means is carried by each of said frames.v

9. The combination accor-ding to claim 7 wherein said guide means comprises means forming a plurality of spaced guideways on each of said frames.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,033 6/ 1956 Latour 23S- 60.31 2,818,801 l/1958 Hart et al. lOl- 99 2,905,382 9/1959 Caraacina 235-60 3,101,896 8/1963 Scozzafava et al 235--136 STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CALCULATING MACHINE HAVING VALUE SELECTING MEANS AND A DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL MEMBER MOVABLE FROM AN INITIAL POSITION TOWARD A SECOND POSITION, SAID VALUE SELECTIVE MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO DIFFERENTIALLY LIMIT THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION, A FIRST YIELDABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONTROL MEMBER TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF, AND A DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEMBER, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A SECOND YIELDABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEMBER FROM AN INITIAL POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION THEREOF, A FLEXIBLE CABLE CONNECTING SAID CONTROL MEMBER TO SAID DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEMBER, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEMBER TO MOVE TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF AT A PREDETERMINED RATE OF SPEED, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID CONTROL MEMBER TO MOVE TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF AHEAD OF SAID DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEMBER WHEREBY SAID CABLE IS MAINTAINED SLACK UNTIL SAID CONTROL MEMBER IS ARRESTED BY SAID VALUE SELECTING MEANS. 